1) 100% sure the instance name, I just double-checked by going to SSMS --> properties of the server --> name

For starters, verify:

2) I can remote connect with the IP...

I tried connecting with my newly installed SQL native Client 10.0, No luck 🙁

New error message though.

Connection failed:

SQLState: '08001'

SQL Server Error: 10060

[Microsoft][SQL Server Native Client 10.0]TCP Provider: A connection attempt...

Sigh, I will get back to you after they finish installing for me (which may take a few days). Thank you for all your help so far!

Unfortunately, when I installed the SQL Server Express with Tools, it popped up an error message saying that my computer does not meet the minimum requirement for SQL Server 2012....

In my company, we have this offered to be downloaded.

Microsoft SQL Server Native Client 10.0 MUI

Is this enough?

Actually my SQL Server is 2012 (I guess I posted on the wrong section, should I remove this post?), I just checked my ODBC connection, it has

SQL Server ...

I checked the value, it was set to 1.

Thank you very much, problem solved.

The reason was because MS SQL Server 2008 onwards, local admins are no longer sysadmins of the server.

I had to go to the install...

So I checked the install log, it says: SQLSYSADMINACCOUNTS: abc\Adminstrator, SQL_SVC

1) Does that mean the account SQL_SVC was used to install SQL Server?

2) Can this account add me as...

I have admin rights, does that work? What steps should I take to add the account?

Here is the log error when I user Windows Authentication:

Login failed for user' ' . Reason: Could not find a login matching the name provided. [CLIENT: <local machine>]

I tried search...

By specific rights you mean?

I am a member of:

Adminstrators

SQL Server2005SQLBrowserUser

SQLServerMSASUser

Users

Strange, but when I choose Server Type: Analysis Services or Reporting Services, I can log in using Windows Authentication. But for Database Engine, and Integration Services I cannot.

When I use Windows Authentication, the user name and password field are greyed out.